[RE-wrenches] Off Grid Battery Charging

[Bradley Bassett]

I tried this back in the 1970's with an exercise bike and a high efficiency
generator (still have this if anyone wants it). If I pushed hard I could
get it up to 200W, but only sustain about 100W. The only time I used it is
when my battery was depleted and I wanted to watch TV. I had a 12VDC 5" B&W
TV (so cute), so I would pedal like crazy during the commercials and it
would just make it to the next commercial. It was way too loud to do it
while watching. I eventually got a generator setup from Backwoods.

Brad

On Thu, Mar 16, 2023 at 3:11 PM Ray Walters via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> As I recall from pushing the "wayback" button, Backwoods and Real Goods
> used to sell something like that in the 90s.  I would only see a
> pyschological benefit, based on the system size. I recall that the
> charge rate was less than 50 watts, so its really not going to be worth
> wiring into the system.  Maybe she could do what several folks have
> done: power a TV while you pedal.  Anyway, here is device that might do
> it:   https://www.econvergence.net/
>
> Ray Walters
> Remote Solar
>
> On 3/16/2023 3:58 PM, Larry Brown via RE-wrenches wrote:
> > Wrenches
> >
> > I have a client that we did an off grid system for about 4 years ago
> > The system is performing well
> > The client would like to keep charged her batteries in the winter with
> her stationary bicycle operating a small generator
> > Right now she uses a grid connection that was available and she turns on
> a breaker if needed to charge the batteries in the winter through the
> inverter
> > When the batteries are fully charged she turns the breaker back off
> > No need for any back up other times of year
> > That is the only use of the grid
> >
> > Her request was to be off grid
> > This set up eliminated the need for her to have a generator for winter
> low light conditions
> > So far all is working as designed
> > But there is talk of adding a gas generator so that if the grid is down,
> there is a back up available
> >
> > The system has 16- AGM Concorde SunXtener Batteries configured in 2
> strings of 8 batteries per string
> > They are PVX 3050T 6 volt batteries operating at 48VDC
> > They are charged from the PV Array by 2- Schneider Conext MPPT 80 600
> Charge Controllers
> > The system has a Schneider Conext XW+ 5548 Single Inverter
> >
> > Any thoughts or ideas of what equipment can be matched with a stationary
> bicycle that might give a trickle charge to the battery bank
> > Anyone ever played with setting this up?
> > She wants to try this out and see what is possible
> > Get some winter exercise and perhaps keep the batteries as close to full
> without using the grid or a back up gas generator
> >
> > All suggestions welcome
> >
> > Thanks
> > Larry
> >
> > Larry Brown
> > Sun Mountain
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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